The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-10-14
In the House.

In the House.
In the House to-day the special order,
which was the bill providing for additional
supervision of railroads in the State, and
to render less hazardous the transportation
of persons and property, was taken up as
the continuing order of yesterday.
Mr.. Jones. of Baker. offered an additional
section: Providing that this bill shall
apply only to the Western
and Atlantic railroad Mr.. Jones urged
the adoption of his amendment He said
that if the purpose of the measure was to
protect the property of the Western and
Atlantic railroad his amendment would
show what was intended, and make the OBJ
ject of the measure plain.
Mr.. Olive spoke in favor of his bill He
was opposed to the amendment offered by
Mr.. Jones.
Mr.. Harrison, of Quitnan, was against
the bill and all its amendments. His argu-
nent was defense of the lessees of the
Western and Atlantic railroad. The leSsees
had contract with the State and should
be left alone. Gov. Brown had paid the
rent and would no doubt continue to do so.
His remarks had little reference 10 the
merits of the bill and We're directed to a
general review Of the condition of the prop
erty Of the Ws,tern and Atlantic railroad,
past, present and future, and the belief that
the lessees would act fairly with the State
Mr.. Simmons of Sumter, thought that the
measure had several good features. The
Commission should have the supervision of
the railroads so that the lives of the people
of Georgia would be protected. He thought
that the measure was a meritorious one
and should pass.
TWO OBJECTS.
Mr. Gambler said that there were two OBJ
jects which were sought to be accomplished
by the bill One was to protect the lives
and property of the people of the
State, and the other was to protect the
property of the Western and Atlantic
railroad. The law now regulating
common carriers was sufficient to cover
the first object, and the second object.
which was to protect the property of the
Western and Atlantic railroad, could not
be accomplished by the bill. The bill was
an innovation upon the States contract with
the lessees The bill in his opinion was UNI
necessary, as the object sought TO be ac-
oomplished had already been provided for
by the Legislature.
The amendment by Mr.. Jones was lost
Mr.. Howell, of fulton, called the previous
question on the report of the committee,
which was favorable to the passage of the
bill, and on this Mr.. Harrison, of Quitman
asked that the yeas and nays be recorded
which was granted.
Mr. Berner, of Monroe, was given the
twenty minutes allowed the committee. and
=
the passage of the measure. He was in
favor of it, because it protected the lives
ana property OF the people of the State and
the property of the Western and Atlantic
railroad from being run down by the lessees.
The bill said to the corporations of the
State keep your roads in good condition.
On the passage of the bill the yeas were
81 and the nays 35.
THE HARRISON RESOLUTION,
bA III hot
known as the Harrison resolution providing
for advertising the property of the Western
and Atlantic railroad for sale or lease The
resolution was reported by substitute, aud
to this there was a minority report pre-
sented by Mr. FELTON,, of Barlow, providing
for advertising the property for lease.
Mr.. Mathews of Houston, favored giving
all the information that could be gathered
going to show the extent and value of the
property. He thought that this informa-
tion should be placed in possession of the
next legislature He was opposed to this
Legislature going further than to get up in
formation for the benefit of the next Legis-
lature
Mr.. FELTON,, of Barlow, addressed the
House in advocacy Of the minority report.
which provided for leasing the road only.
He was opposed to selling the road now or at
any other time, He believed that in thirty
days after the adjournment of the Legisla-
They would refuse to make bond In
his opinion the bond should have been
given long ago. If the road was
ngain leased he believed that the
lessees would be the Louisville and Nash
vile syndicate. The contract should be
kept up unchanged. Gov. Brown SAYS that
the contract does not allow anything for
betterments. The road, in his opinion.
should be easily leased for SIS, 900 per
month. He called i'll an earnest manner
upon the Legislature to stand by the people
Of the State and not do any thing in the
way Of selling the road, but keep it and
lease il.
Mr.. Calvin, Of Richmond. said that he
was opposed to selling the road, also to the
substitute and the minority report which
provided for leasing the property This
Legislature should leave the road alone
until the lease expires. The State could
then take charge of the property and when
ever the Question of betterments was dis
posed of, the question could be settled with
more satisfaction and to better advantage to
the State.
MR. FELLOWS SUBSTITUTE ADOPTED.
The FELTON, substitute was adopted by a
vote of III TO TO-
At the afternoon session the following
bills were passed:
To provide an additional system of work
ing the public roads in Camden county.